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Welcome to Inside Honolulu! It’s a new week at Honolulu Hale, and Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

3:29 p.m. LoPresti challenges Kahele residency
Honolulu City Council District 1 candidate Matthew LoPresti is challenging a second opponent’s residency claims, arguing Mel Kahele is not eligible to represent District 1. He also says a trucker tried to drive his wife off the road on H-1 today.

“Mr. Kahele has entered the election race for the special election for district 1, claiming to live in Ewa Beach at (redacted). I have been to this residence and all of the neighbors I spoke with were very clear in stating that Mr. Kahele does not live there …

It seems that Mr. Kahele may be telling some people he lives in his home in Makakilo (outside of the district for Democratic party purposes) but then telling the City and County and Federal and State government that he lives in Ewa Beach so he can run for office, even though it seems he might not live in Ewa Beach.

The small house in Ewa Beach where he claims to live is the home of Mr. Kahele’s son-in-law. The son-in-law himself said that Mr. Kahele owns a home in lower Makakilo but that despite this fact, and despite the fact that Mr. Kahele “spends a lot of time” at his Makakilo home, he claims that Mr. Kahele actually pays his son-in-law rental income and has done so for approximately two years. It would be rare circumstances indeed for one to own a home of their own but then pay rent to his daughter and son-in-law so he can live with them just down the road. This serves to add suspicion …”

LoPresti was reluctant to share his concerns about Kahele because he is “shaken up,” and fears retribution after raising concerns over opponent Kioni Dudley‘s residence.

“I learned my lesson and I have had enough threats already,” LoPresti wrote in an e-mail. “My wife was nearly run off the H-1 this morning with our baby girl in the car and she said that it wasn’t until that the driver of the big truck that was charging her saw that it was her and a baby in the car (and presumably not me) that the driver backed off.”

LoPresti said he did not file a police report about the incident, but said that he removed campaign materials from the car his wife drives.

2:21 p.m. No plans to oust Tam after guilty plea
City Council member Ann Kobayashi says she hasn’t discussed with colleagues whether it’s appropriate for City Council member Rod Tam to serve the five-week remainder of his term after pleading guilty to 26 counts of theft last week.

“He’s still a council member for now,” Kobayashi told Civil Beat Monday. “I know he’s been out working in his district.”

The Honolulu City Council — including Tam — unanimously voted to censure Tam when the Honolulu Ethics Commission found he misused city funds in March. At the time, then-City Council member Charles Djou called for Tam’s resignation or removal from office.

12:51 p.m. City Cabinet positions to be announced Tuesday
Honolulu Managing Director Doug Chin says tomorrow’s the day. He won’t divulge which Cabinet appointments will be made public, but said the planned announcement for “a few positions” is set for 3 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Among the key positions the mayor has yet to fill is director of the . It’s a critical role, especially when the city’s mayor and managing director are new to crafting a budget for a government with 10,500 workers. At the city prosecutor’s office, the pair oversaw about 300 employees.

12:08 p.m. Political battle escalates quickly in short District 1 race
Even seven-week-long special elections aren’t safe from negative campaigning: Already, candidates are calling one another liars. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, District 1 candidate Matthew LoPresti began contacting local media to raise concerns about the validity of opponent Kioni Dudley‘s address. LoPresti contacted the City Clerk to formally submit his concerns last week.

“I am writing to file a voter challenge to a Mr. Michael Kioni Dudley. This person has filed to run as a candidate in the District 1 special election for City Council and he does not live in the district, and therefore he cannot legally register to vote in the district, and therefore he cannot legally register as a candidate for this City Council seat. Having misled the City and County, State, and Federal governments and the people therein, it seems that Mr. Dudley may be in violation of Federal and local laws.

Mr. Dudley’s actual address is his previously listed one at (redacted). This address is in Makakilo and is far outside of the District 1 which only goes as far north towards Makakilo as the H-1 freeway. I suggest that Mr. Dudley had full knowledge of this and for whatever reason falsified a voter registration change of address form so that he could run in the District 1 election. The address he currently claims for his District 1 address is (redacted). I have been to both addresses, you can ask any of the neighbors and they will tell you where this person does and does not live. Unfortunately, while it is not illegal to move to run for office in this state it is illegal to falsify information about where one actually resides for voting and election purposes, if I am not mistaken. I leave it to you to decide if Mr. Dudley actually resides in his $2 million or so property in Makakilo Heights, with the sweeping and priceless views of O’ahu, and which is outside our district, or in the run-down rented apartment next to the train tracks inside our district.

I swear that to the best of my knowledge that the above is true. Whether I was a candidate for this election or not I would still submit this voter challenge. But I will say that I have entered this District 1 special election for City Council as my first ever bid for political office precisely because I am tired of our election laws being flouted by people like Mr. Dudley who run in districts in which they do not reside.

Ultimately, I am a concerned citizen who wants to ensure that the people of District 1 have fair representation from their elected officials. Part of the reason West O’ahu has been neglected has been because of the ambitions of career politicians and candidates who run in anything they can get their names into, without regard for the office, its duties, or their actual responsibilities to the people. Our community deserves an investigation into the aforementioned, so please do so without delay.

Respectfully,

Matthew S. LoPresti, Ph.D.

P.S. Since initially writing this letter I have verified on video that Mr. Dudley resides in Makakilo Heights and that the registered address of (redacted) does not exist. The later was also verified on video with neighbors and the Residential Manager, Frank Keawemauhili … who looked over the records of all owners and renters at that address and confirmed that no Dudley lives or rents there. Neighbors in the area also confirmed this. His actual residence was confirmed on video by the wife of Michael “Keoni” (sic) Dudley as well.”

“He’s nuts,” Dudley told Civil Beat of the allegations this morning. “You know, he’s obsessed.”

Dudley filed a formal response to the City Clerk this afternoon:

“Matthew LoPresti is obsessed with trying to get me disqualified as a candidate, and he has no compunction about twisting black and white if it suits his purpose.

In paragraph 2 of his complaint, he states, “I have been to both addresses” and talked with the neighbors. In the next paragraph, he states, “I swear that to the best of my knowledge that the above is true.” In his P.S., however, he states that “the address of ‘33V’ does not exist.” He has then, sworn to have visited and talked to neighbors at an address which he later says does not exist.

On the second page of his complaint, there is a business card for Palm Court. I live at Palm Villas.

There is no question that I moved into District One at the last minute. I have been on the Neighborhood Board serving and making decisions about Kapolei, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale and Ko’Olina for twelve years. I have spent most of the last three years as an intervenor for the public at the Land Use Commission protecting the farmland between Waipahu and Kapolei from development. Between the farm and the NB area, I have been deeply involved in, and working for, far more than half of all of District One. No other candidate can make that claim. My home in Makakilo, however, was above the freeway and therefore outside of the district.

I spent the month after the announcement of the District One vacancy searching for someone within the district who shared my concerns for saving the farmland, curbing growth of freeway traffic, and getting rail right. I found many people who shared the ideas, but no one willing to run. In the end, I decided to run myself.

With my wife in agreement to commit to living in District One, I called your office to find out what I must do in order to run under my circumstances, and I followed those instructions exactly.

On November 19, the final day for filing, we rented an apartment in Palm Villas. I am attaching the rental agreement. I am also attaching copies of two cashiers checks (for the rental deposit and payment for the rest of the month) on which the time was typed that morning by the bank. Having visited the apartment, and with the completed rental contract and keys in hand, we headed for your office, arriving there sometime around two o’clock.

Once there, we both formally changed our primary residence through the process of voter registration changes. I then filed my candidacy papers.

We are living at the apartment. I have only three letters which have arrived there as evidence. I did call the resident manager on Thanksgiving asking for a plumber to come for a stopped up toilet which I had worked with unsuccessfully throughout the day. His name is Phil Huth.

We both still maintain our work places at our Makakilo property. My wife is a piano teacher, with students coming regularly. The Kapolei Chorale, twenty-five strong, comes for singing practice each Sunday. I am a writer. My office has been there for many years.

We are enjoying our place in Ewa. We are up to wave signs early in the morning, and away a good part of the day. But we are finding the warm nights a delight after living in Makakilo for many years. We do live in our Ewa home. It is the place we return to. And, if I am elected, I have publicly pledged, and fully intend, to maintain my primary home in District One throughout my time in office.

Dr. Kioni Dudley”

11:54 a.m. It’s a better day to be on Kauai
Turns out the mayor won’t be making any public comment about new hires or anything else. Peter Carlisle is on Kauai. It’s also why there aren’t any events on his public schedule until Wednesday. Here’s what Carlisle has planned for when he returns:

• Proclamation Ceremony for Coldwell Banker at Honolulu Hale
• HPD’s Senior citizen safety conference at Koolau Golf Course
• Kaimuki Christmas parade
• Building Industry Association’s Banquet at the Royal Hawaiian
•  meeting at Oahu Country Club
• Honolulu City Lights tree-topping ceremony at Honolulu Hale
• Filipino Community Center Benefit Dinner at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

A spokesman said there will be announcements about personnel “soon.”

11:30 a.m. It’s “a good day” to talk about personnel
When Civil Beat caught up with Mayor Peter Carlisle before Thanksgiving, he said he’d be ready to announce some important hires today, as well as comment on the sudden resignation of Parks Director Les Chang.

No word yet from the mayor on when he’ll be ready to talk. Team Abercrombie has announced the governor-elect will announce his Cabinet appointments at 2 p.m.

11:08 a.m. Eight City Council candidates to attend forum tonight
Hawaii Public Radio is confirming eight District 1 City Council candidates are set to attend a forum tonight. Tune in to KIPO 89.3 FM to hear political reporter Wayne Yoshioka moderate conversation between:

• Bob McDermott
• Mel Kahele
• Matthew LoPresti
• Christopher Lewis
• Thomas Berg
• John Roco
• Rose Ellazar-Martinez
• Kioni Dudley

That’s just over half the people who are running for former Council Chair Todd Apo‘s post. The following candidates are also in the mix, but aren’t on the docket for tonight’s live forum:

• Victoria Carvalho-Yuen
• James Manaku
• Patricia Teruya
• Jason Espero
• Gary Velleses
• Celeste Lacuesta

Want to hear candidates answer your questions? E-mail them to news@hawaiipublicradio.org.

Catch up on previous editions of Inside Honolulu
November 24: City Council member Rod Tam pleaded guilty to 26 counts of theft, Kirk Caldwell tells Civil Beat “everything is on the table” for his political future, Mayor Peter Carlisle stays mum on the sudden resignation of Parks director Les Chang.

November 23: Mayor Peter Carlisle nominated three more Hannemann-era department directors for permanent gigs, city leaders discuss public safety threats, City Council Chair Nestor Garcia explains the City Council reorganization.

November 22: City Council member Gary Okino leads council to kill leaf blower ban, City Council approves five nominations for key leadership, opts to audit city use of bicycle funds, and accepts $350,000 gift from Walmart.